Bab al-Futuh (Arabic: باب الفتوح, lit. 'Conquest Gate') is one of three remaining gates in the city wall of the old city of Cairo, Egypt. It is located at the northern end of al-Mu'izz Street.[1] The other two remaining gates are Bab al-Nasr (Victory Gate) in the north and Bab Zuwayla (Gate of Zuwayla) in the south.[2] The gate was built during the Fatimid period, originally in the 10th century, then rebuilt in its current form in the late 11th century.
When Cairo was originally founded in 969 by the Fatimid general Jawhar, on behalf of Caliph al-Mu'izz, it was surrounded by a set of city walls built in brick and pierced by multiple gates.[3] Later, during the reign of Caliph al-Mustansir, the vizier and army commander Badr al-Gamali rebuilt the city walls and its gates in stone. The present gate was thus completed in 1087, along with the neighbouring Bab al-Nasr gate.[3][4] Bab al-Futuh was originally called Bab al-Iqbal, or “the Gate of Prosperity”, but was given its present name when Badr al-Gamali reconstructed it.[5]
Architecture
Stonework details of the gate
The gate is 22 metres (72 ft) tall 23 metres (75 ft) wide.[6] The lower two thirds of the gate are built in solid stone, while the upper third was built in rubble stone encased in by solid, finely dressed stone. The gate has a defensive design and its entrance is flanked by two tall towers of round shape.[7] Its decoration and craftsmanship are more extensive and of higher quality than that of nearby Bab al-Nasr.[3][4] The details of its stonework also suggest the influence of northern Syrian or Byzantine architectural traditions or craftsmen.[7]
On its outer façade, the gate's entrance is surmounted by a splayed arch covered by a stone-carved pattern of lozenges with rosette and cross motifs inside them.[3] Above this is an overhanging section that projects outward from the wall between the towers. This feature was a predecessor of the machicoulis.[4] The overhang is supported on stone brackets, two of which are carved with the shape of ram's head, a symbol of Mars in the zodiac (known in Arabic as al-Qahir and associated with the founding of Cairo, called al-Qahira).[3][4] Between the brackets are stone-carved rectangles with decorative such as vegetal designs and an eight-pointed star. The inner sides of the towers flanking the gate are carved with large blind arches with "cushion"-style voussoirs. Shallow blind arches are also carved across the front of the towers. Above these arches are recessed rectangular zones pierced by arrowslit windows.[3] A stone-carved molding, consisting of two parallel lines with loops between them, runs along the upper façade of the gate. This is the earliest example of a decorative feature which later recurred frequently in Mamluk architecture (13th to 16th centuries).[3] There are no inscriptions on the façade of the gate itself,[8] but an inscription in floriated Kufic can be seen nearby to the east, on the outer façade of the wall salient around the northern minaret of the adjacent al-Hakim Mosque.[9]
Inside the gate, the vestibule is covered by a shallow semi-spherical dome. The transition between the dome and the rectangular space below is achieved through the use of pendentives, a feature more typical of Byzantine architecture.[3] Through a doorway on the east side is the tomb of an unidentified figure. Through another door on the west side is a long vaulted chamber.[10]
Details of the gate
Details above the gate
Blind arch with "cushion" voussoirs on the inner side of the flanking towers
Detail of the stone brackets of the overhang above the gate
Inner side of Bab al-Futuh
Inner side of Bab al-Futuh (more distant view with upper level visible)
A part of the Fatimid-era Kufic inscription on the walls east of the gate
^Tignor, Robert L. (2010). Egypt: A Short History. Princeton University Press. p. 146.
^Rabbat, Nasser (1995). The Citadel of Cairo: A New Interpretation of Royal Mameluk Architecture. Leiden ; New York ; Köln Brill. p. 13. ISBN9004101241.
^ abcdefghBehrens-Abouseif, Doris (1989). Islamic Architecture in Cairo: An Introduction. Leiden, the Netherlands: E.J. Brill. pp. 67–69. ISBN9789004096264.
^ abcdWilliams, Caroline (2018). Islamic Monuments in Cairo: The Practical Guide (7th ed.). Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press. pp. 243–245.
^Warner, Nicholas (2005). The monuments of historic Cairo : a map and descriptive catalogue. The American University in Cairo Press. ISBN977-424-841-4. OCLC 929659618.
^Torky, Tarek. "Bab al-Futuh". Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
^Kay, H. C. (1882). "Al Kāhirah and Its Gates". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. 14 (3): 229–245. doi:10.1017/S0035869X00018232. ISSN 0035-869X. JSTOR 25196925. S2CID 164159559.
^Williams, Caroline (2018). Islamic Monuments in Cairo: The Practical Guide (7th ed.). Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press. pp. 243–245.
^Warner, Nicholas (2005). The monuments of historic Cairo : a map and descriptive catalogue. The American University in Cairo Press. ISBN977-424-841-4. OCLC 929659618.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bab al-Futuh.
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For the gate in Fez Morocco see Bab Ftouh Bab al Futuh Arabic باب الفتوح lit Conquest Gate is one of three remaining gates in the city wall of the old city of Cairo Egypt It is located at the northern end of al Mu izz Street 1 The other two remaining gates are Bab al Nasr Victory Gate in the north and Bab Zuwayla Gate of Zuwayla in the south 2 The gate was built during the Fatimid period originally in the 10th century then rebuilt in its current form in the late 11th century Bab al FutuhContents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditWhen Cairo was originally founded in 969 by the Fatimid general Jawhar on behalf of Caliph al Mu izz it was surrounded by a set of city walls built in brick and pierced by multiple gates 3 Later during the reign of Caliph al Mustansir the vizier and army commander Badr al Gamali rebuilt the city walls and its gates in stone The present gate was thus completed in 1087 along with the neighbouring Bab al Nasr gate 3 4 Bab al Futuh was originally called Bab al Iqbal or the Gate of Prosperity but was given its present name when Badr al Gamali reconstructed it 5 Architecture Edit Stonework details of the gate The gate is 22 metres 72 ft tall 23 metres 75 ft wide 6 The lower two thirds of the gate are built in solid stone while the upper third was built in rubble stone encased in by solid finely dressed stone The gate has a defensive design and its entrance is flanked by two tall towers of round shape 7 Its decoration and craftsmanship are more extensive and of higher quality than that of nearby Bab al Nasr 3 4 The details of its stonework also suggest the influence of northern Syrian or Byzantine architectural traditions or craftsmen 7 On its outer facade the gate s entrance is surmounted by a splayed arch covered by a stone carved pattern of lozenges with rosette and cross motifs inside them 3 Above this is an overhanging section that projects outward from the wall between the towers This feature was a predecessor of the machicoulis 4 The overhang is supported on stone brackets two of which are carved with the shape of ram s head a symbol of Mars in the zodiac known in Arabic as al Qahir and associated with the founding of Cairo called al Qahira 3 4 Between the brackets are stone carved rectangles with decorative such as vegetal designs and an eight pointed star The inner sides of the towers flanking the gate are carved with large blind arches with cushion style voussoirs Shallow blind arches are also carved across the front of the towers Above these arches are recessed rectangular zones pierced by arrowslit windows 3 A stone carved molding consisting of two parallel lines with loops between them runs along the upper facade of the gate This is the earliest example of a decorative feature which later recurred frequently in Mamluk architecture 13th to 16th centuries 3 There are no inscriptions on the facade of the gate itself 8 but an inscription in floriated Kufic can be seen nearby to the east on the outer facade of the wall salient around the northern minaret of the adjacent al Hakim Mosque 9 Inside the gate the vestibule is covered by a shallow semi spherical dome The transition between the dome and the rectangular space below is achieved through the use of pendentives a feature more typical of Byzantine architecture 3 Through a doorway on the east side is the tomb of an unidentified figure Through another door on the west side is a long vaulted chamber 10 Details of the gate Details above the gate Blind arch with cushion voussoirs on the inner side of the flanking towers Detail of the stone brackets of the overhang above the gate Inner side of Bab al Futuh Inner side of Bab al Futuh more distant view with upper level visible A part of the Fatimid era Kufic inscription on the walls east of the gateSee also EditGates of Cairo List of Historic Monuments in CairoReferences Edit Tignor Robert L 2010 Egypt A Short History Princeton University Press p 146 Rabbat Nasser 1995 The Citadel of Cairo A New Interpretation of Royal Mameluk Architecture Leiden New York Koln Brill p 13 ISBN 9004101241 a b c d e f g h Behrens Abouseif Doris 1989 Islamic Architecture in Cairo An Introduction Leiden the Netherlands E J Brill pp 67 69 ISBN 9789004096264 a b c d Williams Caroline 2018 Islamic Monuments in Cairo The Practical Guide 7th ed Cairo The American University in Cairo Press pp 243 245 Warner Nicholas 2005 The monuments of historic Cairo a map and descriptive catalogue The American University in Cairo Press ISBN 977 424 841 4 OCLC 929659618 Torky Tarek Bab al Futuh Discover Islamic Art Museum With No Frontiers Retrieved 17 June 2022 a b Bab al Futuh Archnet Retrieved 2019 12 09 Kay H C 1882 Al Kahirah and Its Gates Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 14 3 229 245 doi 10 1017 S0035869X00018232 ISSN 0035 869X JSTOR 25196925 S2CID 164159559 Williams Caroline 2018 Islamic Monuments in Cairo The Practical Guide 7th ed Cairo The American University in Cairo Press pp 243 245 Warner Nicholas 2005 The monuments of historic Cairo a map and descriptive catalogue The American University in Cairo Press ISBN 977 424 841 4 OCLC 929659618 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bab al Futuh Bab al Futuh in ArchnetCoordinates 30 3 19 90 N 31 15 48 32 E 30 0555278 N 31 2634222 E 30 0555278 31 2634222 This article about an Egyptian building or structure is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bab al Futuh amp oldid 1136321681, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
